(K2Climb.net) A massive landslide swept
four villages in Pakistan's Hunza Valley,
dammed up the Hunza river with a severe risk
of flooding, cut off parts of KKH and left
tens of thousands to survive the winter without
supplies. Attabad village reportedly took
the worst hit. "Some 1,500 people were
forced out of their homes from the nearby
villages after the disaster had shaken homes
with huge cracks underneath, and damaged the
entire area declared Sultan Khan from Nazir
Sabir's outfit told Simone Moro. Authorities
have declared state of emergency but four
days after the tragedy hopes of finding survivors
are fading." "The monstrous mountain
slide has completely blocked the Hunza River,
creating an artificial dam. Debris splashing
across the river has also damaged a two-kilometre
stretch of the Karakoram Highway - leaving
Gojal area (Hunza's northern side) completely
isolated by land," Sultan Khan said.
"Over 22,000 people in the far flung
villages of Hunza are running out of rations
and are at the mercy of airlifted food supplies,
medicines and other materials till the KKH
is reopened - which is likely to take over
six months at least." "Yet there
is a greater danger to the nearby villages
and downstream areas if the blocked river
dam bursts triggering flooding."
Government agencies, Aga Khan Foundation,
Focus and few other NGOs are in action already
and we are accessing the situation further.

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